Head of Contractor Management - Repairs

Head of Contractor Management - Repairs - Preston

At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That's someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work.

As the UK's leading Social Enterprise, we're dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.

So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!

In this role, you lead the delivery of all contracted repair services, ensuring they are high quality, timely, compliant and customer focused. You design and implement an effective structure for managing repair contractors, applying strong governance, health and safety oversight, and cost control so services are delivered efficiently and in line with contractual agreements. You promote the use of in house resources wherever possible, ensure we have the right volume and quality of contractors supported by the new repairs framework and integrate Origin and Voids contractors into the team.

You also build and develop a high performing team, strengthening capability, supporting succession, and ensuring colleagues role model our People and Customer Promises.

• Significant contract management experience with proven results in improving customer service, reducing material costs and ensuring strong compliance.
• Leadership ability
  , with experience building and developing high performing teams and influencing senior stakeholders and partners.
• Strong commercial acumen
  , including interpreting KPIs, managing budgets, analysing contractor cost models and identifying value for money opportunities.
• High level influencing and negotiation skills
  , able to manage contractors, drive performance and deliver service improvements.

You bring strong contract management expertise, with proven results in improving customer service, reducing costs and ensuring full compliance. You're an effective leader who can build a high performing contract management team, influence senior stakeholders and collaborate across organisations and supply chains. You have solid commercial acumen, confidently interpreting KPIs, scrutinising cost models and identifying value for money opportunities. You're skilled at negotiating and influencing contractors, designing robust systems and processes, and placing customers at the centre of decisions.

You communicate clearly, handle escalations professionally and present complex information in a way that's easy to understand. Ideally, you also have knowledge of health and safety, CDM, project management and building regulations, and hold a relevant degree level qualification or chartered membership.

We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.

We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:

• Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly
• Car Allowance
• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
• Excellent holiday package - 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave
• Cashback plan for healthcare costs - up to 500 saving per year
• Annual bonus
• Training and development
• Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more.

At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.

We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.

By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities.